Match ends, Sheffield United 1, Port Vale 0.
Sheff UtdSheffield United1Port ValePort Vale0
Sheffield United climbed to within four points of the League One play-off places with victory over Port Vale.
Che Adams almost opened the scoring after beating Vale's defence, but was foiled by goalkeeper Chris Neal.
Vale's Anthony Grant tested George Long with a curler, but Billy Sharp broke the deadlock for the Blades with a half-volley from a Dean Hammond cross.
Sharp was a persistent threat to the Vale backline, but wasted two chances to add to his earlier strike.
Former Blades defender Rob Page's Vale, who slip to 11th, had lost just once in six games prior to his return to Bramall Lane.
Port Vale manager Rob Page told BBC Radio Stoke:
"You are never happy with a defeat. Of course, we are gutted. But it is the level of performance that we set. We have played much, much better than that.
"We haven't given a good account of ourselves today against a team that were there for the taking. Our passing was awful at times. We didn't make it too hard for them.
"I can't fault the effort in the last 20 minutes . I thought we had a right go at them, but I am really disappointed. I thought we fell below the standards we have set."
Line-ups
Sheff Utd
Formation 4-4-2
- 25Long
- 5Brayford
- 34Edgar
- 6BashamBooked at 41mins
- 19McEveley
- 7FlynnSubstituted forCouttsat 83'minutes
- 22Reed
- 35HammondBooked at 30minsSubstituted forCuvelierat 66'minutes
- 17WoolfordBooked at 73mins
- 29AdamsSubstituted forDoneat 80'minutes
- 10Sharp
Substitutes
- 1Howard
- 8Coutts
- 14Done
- 20Campbell-Ryce
- 27Calvert-Lewin
- 32McGahey
- 33Cuvelier
Port Vale
Formation 4-4-2
- 1Neal
- 2Purkiss
- 6Duffy
- 5McGivernBooked at 89mins
- 3Dickinson
- 19MooreSubstituted forKellyat 62'minutesBooked at 68mins
- 42Grant
- 11Foley
- 9Kennedy
- 20Leitch-SmithSubstituted forDoddsat 75'minutes
- 25RobinsonSubstituted forHooperat 57'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Streete
- 8O'Connor
- 10Dodds
- 15Hooper
- 17Brown
- 18Kelly
- 23Boot
- Referee:
- Ben Toner
- Attendance:
- 18,276
Match Stats
Home TeamSheff UtdAway TeamPort Vale
- Possession
- Home43%
- Away57%
- Shots
- Home11
- Away5
- Shots on Target
- Home4
- Away0
- Corners
- Home2
- Away10
- Fouls
- Home16
- Away10
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Sheffield United 1, Port Vale 0.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Martyn Woolford.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Martyn Woolford.
Post update
Attempt missed. Louis Reed (Sheffield United) right footed shot from more than 35 yards misses to the left.
Booking
Ryan McGivern (Port Vale) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Post update
Foul by Ryan McGivern (Port Vale).
Post update
Foul by Matt Done (Sheffield United).
Post update
Anthony Grant (Port Vale) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by Louis Reed.
Post update
Corner, Port Vale. Conceded by David Edgar.
Post update
Attempt blocked. Ryan McGivern (Port Vale) header from the centre of the box is blocked.
Post update
Hand ball by Paul Coutts (Sheffield United).
Post update
Attempt missed. Billy Sharp (Sheffield United) right footed shot from outside the box is too high.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Paul Coutts replaces Ryan Flynn.
Substitution
Substitution, Sheffield United. Matt Done replaces Che Adams.
Substitution
Substitution, Port Vale. Louis Dodds replaces A-Jay Leitch-Smith.
Booking
Martyn Woolford (Sheffield United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Post update
Foul by Martyn Woolford (Sheffield United).
